VIERA, Fla. — Chien-Ming Wang, attempting to pitch for the Nationals this season after missing all of 2010 recovering from shoulder surgery, will make his first spring training appearance next week against minor leaguers.

Wang is slated to pitch at least one inning Friday in an intrasquad game featuring members of the Nationals' accelerated minor-league program. It will be his first game appearance since a pair of one-inning outings in the Florida instructional league in October.

The Nationals hope Wang, who had major surgery to repair his right shoulder socket in 2009, will be ready to pitch in official Grapefruit League games soon but didn't want to thrust him into that fire quite yet.

"It's uncharted waters recovering from that operation," manager Jim Riggleman said. "We're just being ultra-conservative and not going to put him out there against somebody in the other uniform yet, where maybeRead more »

Good to hear that C-M Wang is going to face real-game conditions, even if it is against AA & lower hitters. If he starts showing command, maybe they bump him into the regular ST rotation after the first cut-downs (mid March).

Barker posted some amazing slash numbers (.291/.416/.510/.926) in the Mexican League last year; Rizzo tossed him a NRI contract just to see how much he's got left in the tank, IMO. Why Lombardozzi was left off the NRI list, I haven't a clue – His minor-league & AFL numbers should have warrented a look, at the very least.

They also threw Michael Aubrey an NRI. Probably felt Lombardozzi wouldn't see much action given the additional veteran MI they decided to sign and bring to camp. If Harper hadn't signed a major league contract he would probably not be an NRI this year either.

@sparky:I believe Anon's point was if Harper had not signed a MLB contract (40-man), he would not have earned a NRI or an AFL appearance, having signed so late in the season. But then, why would a #1-#1 sign anything less than a MLB contract? The point is non-sensical on its face – good catch.

CMW had both Espy and Desi shaking their heads during live BP today…that is a good sign!Mark – did you get to ask them their thoughts on facing CWM?Also, JZimm looked good breaking Pudge's bat in his BP session!

I don't understand why they are talking about Cain. He's been in the minors for 7 full seasons, and he'll be 26 in April. Why would the braves trade prado or jj for a 26 year old rookie? If he's not good enough to play for the brewers of a couple years ago OR the royals last year what makes people think he'd be good enough to play for any playoff contending team?